Heart of the Swarm: experience

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm First Look

StarCraft 2 Gameplay

StarCraft 2 is the sequel to the real-time strategy game, StarCraft, and is the second installment to what series creator Blizzard envisions as a trilogy. Similar to long-running RPG games, StarCraft II can be played without prior knowledge of the events of the original StarCraft, but it does give a noticeable edge in learning curve and play speed. The sequel continues the core concept of building an army and destroying all other players in a common shared map. Players start each StarCraft 2 match located near a resource-rich area from which they will start setting up a base to harvest resources, construct buildings and train military units to be sent out to battle. Victory is clinched when one player is able to wipe out all the standing buildings of an opponent.

Before each match, players get to choose control of one of three main races – the human-like Terrans, the assimilationist Zerg or the cybernetic Protoss. No one race is dominating in terms of game balance. There are certain units in each race that can counteract the units of other races, making StarCraft 2 more of a rock-paper-scissors game. Players routinely change strategies mid-game to adapt to the shifting production and army composition of their opponents. In most maps, players also try to expand their reach to unoccupied resource areas to increase their resource gathering and unit production. Establishing more bases gives a solid advantage since a player gets to create more units with better upgrades.

StarCraft 2 features quite a number of different units from the previous line-up. Some have been replaced, while others like the Protoss immortals (previously dragoons) were given new weapons and abilities to suit the storyline events. Multiplayer is very much supported in StarCraft II. Players who decide to compete with one another instead of against computer AI can do so via Battle.net. Blizzard has put up a new competitive ladder scheme and matchmaking system to rank the best players and pair up those with a similar skill level for more closely fought matches. StarCraft II will be split into three installment packs based around each of the three races. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty focuses on the Terrans; StarCraft II: Heart of Swarm features the Zerg; while StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void center on the Protoss. This injects a storytelling suspense to StarCraft 2, as the player gets to witness the unfolding sci-fi saga through different viewpoints.